Lot 890
1955 Lincoln Cent. Doubled die obverse. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. A lovely double die cent. There is a small mark on Lincoln's ear, possibly restricting the grade from a full point higher, which it otherwise would deserve. Just the same it is a radiant MS64 that has outstanding detail and crimson-red color. Clear-cut devices point to it having been giving a full strike by the dies as well. Pop 147; 18 finer in 65 (PCGS # 2827) .
The increased demand for Cents this year obliged the Philadelphia Mint to extend its production schedule and, as a result, to lessen its quality control. An obverse die that had accidentally rotated between blows from the working hub slipped past the inspectors and ended up in a press. Paired with a normal reverse die, this obverse struck between 20,000 and 24,000 doubled die cents. The error was discovered only after the coins had been included with other properly struck 1955 cents in the distribution pipeline. Since the Mint did not want to destroy 10 million cents in order to stop the doubled die examples from leaving the Mint, Chief Coiner Sydney C. Engel decided to let them pass. The first example was discovered by the public in Massachusetts late in 1955 where they soon wholesaled for 50c to a dollar apiece. Soon, this set of a mad dash by the public to find the fast-appreciating errors. And so history was made.
Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000.
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| Realized $12,075 |
